Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-10-27
Niagra Falls
[By DR.. T. B. Robinson.l

by DR.. F. B. Robinson.l
AS one approaches Niagara Falls, a
sound of heavy motion is felt and heard
like the roll of distant thunder contin-
ued. The vibrations CULVER and trem-
BILE like the dying echoes of the thunder
through long valley. 1t is the sound
of natures rovelry which goes on by
day and night. Nature has summoned
here, her grander forces to bedeck her
woundrous capitol of natural cenery
with an apparent show of violence.
Nature was never known to be strong
in display but here, with more than
lavish hand has she arrayed her powers.
Her forces have been sporting loosely
above in the chrystal lakes, but here on
the brow Of this mountain civil rebellion
occurs, an endless war of elements full
Of sound and fury. The waters of
great lakes is compressed through this
narrow channel. The first app earance
Of n. f. on the mind is very impressive.
Magnitude and greatness come first in
the mind; grandure, force and power
soon follow as the eye beholds that vast
volume of water dash over the rocky
ledge of coast. Surely the bed of the
river is very uneven.
The 'frst sight" of the cataract be-
wilders and confuses so as to make it
little unsatisfactory. One hears the
,oor caaC tho scf nj foam oyJ rro oJ
colored water but is a little puzzled
whether it is what he expected-disap-
pointment or over anticipation.
One is quickly reminded of
Southey's poem written by
suggestive question from his little child
as to GLOW does the water come down
at Lodore?" Southey answered the
child in rhyme because he said he was
Poet Laureate to his boy and the king.
"The cataract strong then rushes along,
Striking and raging as if war waging
Collecting, projecting; receding and speeding
Shocking and rocking darting and parting
Pouring and roaring and waving and rowing
Glittering and fritering, and whitening and
Frightening,
Dividing and gliding and shiding
Falling and brawling and spraWling
Grumbling and rumbling and tumbIing,
Advancing and prancing and glancing and
dancing,
Rushing and gushing, flushing and blushing
Humping and Pumping and humping and
jumping,
Dashing and flashing and splashing and
clashing,
And so never ending but always decending
sounds and motions forever and ever are blend
Ing"
The time one remains at the Falls
modifes very much his views. Too
short stay makes one little too en-
thusiastic, while almost all the old
residents get as Indifferent to its charms
as shakespeare grave digger did to
throwing skulls out of the grave. The
newness of visit invests the whole
cataract with veil of novelty but sober
second thought soon wear them away.
There is even novelty in watching the
process of death, but use and experience
hardens until human death effects one
but slightly. Few mortals can write of
the Falls with any degree of satisfaction
Grandeur of size, sublimity of power
and majesty of motion are things too
great to be described by pen. Season,
sun and moon modify the appearance of
the Falls very much.
The attractions as resort increases
every year as travel increases from
every quarter of the world. Innumer-
able people flock to this wonder of
nature to gaze with deep feeling on this
river flowing over a mountain. A few
bare facts may be suggestive. Father
Hennepin first visited Niagara in 1873.
The Falls have receded rs feet in IT'S
years. From 1918 to 1867 so much of
table rock broke away and fell into the
flood that the Canadian Government
blew up the rest for safety to visitors.
As an instance IN 1850 a fragment of 200
feet long and 100 feet thick broke and
fell in the waters on which only few
minutes before some so persons were
standing. The first suspension bridge
was built III 1885 by John A. Roebling
and is for railroad and carriages.
About 500 miles of wire was used in the
cables. The new suspension bridge was
built in 1868. Its length is 1868 feet
and its cables are 1900 feet long
The Cantelever bridge was built in
1888. This is a new form of bridge
which has only two butments or piers
that balance the bridge as on pivot
with the long arm resting Oh the shore
The length of Niagara Falls is 164 feet.
The volume of water which goes over
the falls is more than Is feet thick which
was proved in 1929 by sending con-
densed vessel over. The vessel drew Is
feet of water but did not strike the cliff
as it plunged off. The fall of the river
from three fourths of mile above the
falls is 80 feet and the stream increases
from to 80 miles an hour. 1t decends
one foot mile for til first Is miles from
Lake Erie. The Falls are about mile
in length. Below the Falls the river